Who said “There never was a good war or a bad peace.”?

Verified

Benjamin Franklin. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceLetter to Josiah Quincy (11 September 1783)

Evidence: Wikiquote · How we check

Source checked · Something wrong? Report a correction

Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: Letter to Josiah Quincy (11 September 1783).

APA

Franklin, B. (n.d.). There never was a good war or a bad peace. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/32071-there-never-was-a-good-war-or-a/

MLA

Franklin, Benjamin. “There never was a good war or a bad peace.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/32071-there-never-was-a-good-war-or-a/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Franklin, Benjamin. “There never was a good war or a bad peace.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/32071-there-never-was-a-good-war-or-a/.